Vivien Leigh Kills it as Scarlett O'Hara

Vivien Leigh as Southern Vixen, Scarlett O'Hara

Though I may have slipped by without reading the novel while growing up in Atlanta, few Southerners have got away without seeing the epic Hollywood adaptation of Gone With the Wind, and I have seen it countless times. It's the all-time favorite Hollywood classic for me, as it has a mesmerizing visual appeal and a power to bring out both tears of laughter and tears of sadness. The depiction of the south makes me nostalgic for home and respectful of its history. The acting is superb, and the sets and costumes are sumptuous, with strikingly stark contrasts in the wartime and post-war scenes. 

Before the 'War of Northern Aggression', Scarlett as a Southern Belle at Tara

It was filmed in 1939, one of the greatest years of Hollywood film making--the year The Wizard of Oz  came out among other great classics--yet Gone With the Wind racked up almost every major award that year, from Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography in Color. It's a hands-down must see for a classic film aficionado.

Southern Belles at the Wilkes Plantation BBQ

Scarlett with Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) and Melanie (Oliva de Havilland).

Scarlett learns that Ashley and his cousin Melanie are engaged.

"But Ashley can't marry Melanie! He loves me!"

Winning actresses Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role as the indefatigable 'Mammy'.

After the war, the most spine-tingling moment of the film is when Scarlett declares, "I will never go hungry again!" This is my favorite scene!

With Scarlett's Husband #1 in the grave, Rhett (Clark Gable) rescues her from the boredom of mourning and onto the dance floor.

The most astonishing up-cycled creation ever-- an impoverished Scarlett yanks down the velvet curtains at Tara and whips up a stunning ensemble in which to plead money from Rhett. Wish I could up-cycle this well!

Later, with Husband #2 in the grave, Rhett takes a leap of faith and asks Scarlett to marry him, hoping she just might come around to love him someday, and forget her wimpy Ashley at last.

And for a couple of years marriage is OK....

...though she still doesn't come around...

...and still longs for her wimpy Ashley.

Until after several tragedies, the distance becomes too great, and Scarlett realizes too late that she really does love Rhett after all. She runs back to the house to tell him, but he's already on his way out when she catches up with him. With those infamous last words, he tells her in the polite, gentlemanly way of the day, to fuck off. Poor, misguided Scarlett! In her large, garish house, all alone, she vows to win him back, "For tomorrow is another day!".

Who hasn't seen Gone With the Wind, ya'll? If not, go see it, honey! If so, what is your favorite scene?

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